Patellar replacement in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. A study of patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and no gross deformity of the patella.

Thirty-five patients who had rheumatoid arthritis of both knees, but no gross deformity of the patella, had bilateral total knee arthroplasty. In each patient, one knee had a patellar replacement and the other did not. All of the patients were followed for a minimum of two years. The results were the same in both knees in terms of relief of pain and improvement in function, arc of motion, and muscle power. Although no complications that were related to patellar replacement developed in these patients, routine replacement of patellae that have little or no deformity does not seem advisable.